Maurizio Sarri puts Celtic and Champions League in priority as ‘blocked’ Lazio transfer earns Galatasaray chief pot shot

The hardened Italian coach ‘blocked’ a transfer at the eleventh hour to make priority for the Champions League.

Maurizio Sarri isn’t taking Celtic or the Champions League group stage lightly after he ‘blocked’ the transfer exit of a key player at the eleventh hour.

The former Chelsea boss is at the centre of some transfer market controversy after defender come midfielder Matías Vecino looked set to join Turkish giants Galatasaray, with terms reportedly agreed between the player and the Serie A side. Celtic will square off with the Rome outfit after besting them in the Europa League under Neil Lennon, with glamour ties against Atletico Madrid and Dutch champions Feyenoord making up the hefty group.

But Sarri has been fighting fires since the transfer window closed with the Lazio coach said to have been ‘completely’ out of the loop that star man Vecino was to leave for Turkey. Reports suggest that Galatasaray were even prepared for the 32-year-old to flight in to seal the deal before the Italian vetoed the move.

Galatasaray chief Erden Timur explained the confusing process when quizzed this afternoon, as the Turkish side instead moved for Tanguy Ndombele from Spurs, who was joined by Tottenham teammate Davinson Sanchez in heading for Instanbul. Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou had seemingly deemed both surplus to requirements.

Timur explain that manager Okan Buruk wanted Vecino instead of Frenchman Ndombele, but that it was Sarri’s final call that led to the transfer being blocked. He said: “Our coach chose Vecino because he can play 6-8. We talked to Vecino and agreed with his club as well. He was also talking to Muslera and Torreira. However, at the last moment, Sarri opposed the player’s departure. He even reacted.”